House of the Dragon season one, episode 8 recap: A dying King makes a final plea

Last week’s episode was a real shocker – Laenor was brutally attacked in Driftmark’s Great Hall, Rhaenyra and Daemon got together, Aegon lost an eye, Otto was back in business as Hand of the King and Alicent showed her true colours.

So what will episode 8 hold? More murders (with the malevolent Lord Larys still on the scene it seems likely)? More backstabbing? Or all-out war this time? As ever, a ton of spoilers ahead.

A throne by any other name

Episode 8 opens in a throne room – but this one isn’t surrounded by swords. We’re at Driftmark and it’s the Driftwood Throne, the high seat of House Velaryon, and Rhaenys is sitting in it.

Apparently, it’s been six years since she last saw Corlys. She’s just received the news that he’s gravely wounded. He got his neck slashed, and fell overboard. Now he’s got a terrible fever and “burns from within”. Sounds rough.

“The Sea Snake is strong”, says Laena Velaryon’s daughter, who is being looked after by her Gran. It’s true, but that doesn’t stop the kingdom’s sharks from smelling blood. And they’re circling.

First up is Corlys’s brother Vaemond, who is using his brother’s illness as an opportunity to put himself forward as the next heir, instead of Rhaenyra and Laenor’s son Lucerys.

“Driftmark is mine by all rights, and while I should like your support I do not need it,” he tells Rhaenys. “The winds have shifted, The Crown has good reason to take my side.”

She replies that the King would have his tongue for this. Yes, but it’s not a king on the Iron Throne, it’s a queen, he replies – and he’s not wrong.

An uncle and a niece make plans

Daemon is scrambling around a rocky area and picks up an egg. When he returns to the dragon handlers he says that Syrax has brought a fresh clutch of eggs – three in fact. Well, that bodes well for his growing family.

He receives a note from Driftmark. It’s from his and Laena’s daughter Baela, who shares the news about Corlys’s injury and Vaemond’s ambitions for the throne.

Daemon goes to share the news with Rhaenyra. She is, unsurprisingly at this point, pregnant, and Daemon rubs her belly tenderly (it will never stop being weird).

Rhaenyra is not pleased with the news. Vaemond means to call into question Luce’s (Lucerys) legitimacy, Jace’s (Jacaerys), and thus her own claim to the throne? Daemon is equally concerned. Has he made a common cause with Otto? The note says that Rhaenys is going to court, too – surely she cannot be planning to back Vaemond?

“Those vipers rule in my father’s name,” sighs Rhaenyra. They must go to King’s Landing and make their claim for their right to the Driftwood Throne.

A warm welcome

Rhaenyra and Daemon return to King’s Landing but it is Lord Caswell who comes to greet them. Alicent or Otto are nowhere to be seen, but then again, perhaps Rhaenyra would rather not see her former friend after the last episode’s knife fiasco.

“I would say it’s nice to be home, but I scarcely recognise it,” says Rhaenyra as she enters.

Meanwhile, over in the council room, the usual suspects are having an economics meeting. Everyone is looking incredibly bored. A knight comes to tell Alicent about Rhaenyra and Daemon’s arrival, but she seems unbothered and moody. She’s wearing a high-necked bodice which has chains on it and a golden star. Sort of Star Trek meets the High Sparrow.

The council moves to discuss the Driftwood heir. Someone says that Lucerys has been raised away from Driftmark which makes him less legitimate (despite the fact he’s a dragonrider); someone else says that his abilities have nothing to do with his claim on the throne, while someone else says the Sea Snake never formally named him as heir anyway.

Lord Beesbury, one of the older council members, protests. Surely the fact that Lucerys is Laenor’s son makes his right to the throne undeniable? Watch out honourable man, you will come to a sticky end soon if you don’t pipe down.

Alicent cuts him off. They will listen to the petitions of Princess Rhaenyra and the other claimants tomorrow.

As she’s leaving the room a knight stops her. There’s been a “delicate situation in the prince’s apartments”.

Cobwebs and a King

Daemon and Rhaenyra go to see the old King Viserys, who is, can you believe it, still alive, though no one in the palace is acting like he is.

His chambers are dusty; thin, wispy curtains hang around the King’s bed and cobwebs cover his model city. There are no signs of life in that room.

Daemon and Rhaenyra lean over the bed, Rhaenyra closest to her father. The King looks really, properly awful. His skin is almost curdling, something has happened to one side of his face and it is bandaged up. He looks mutilated and skeletal.

When the Princess says she is there with Daemon her father repeats Daemon, Daemon, Daemon – it’s difficult to tell whether he’s upset, or pleased, or angry. Or lucid at all for that matter.

They explain the Driftmark situation – the fighting in the Stepstones, Corlys and the petition to decide upon the succession. But moments later the King asks whether something happened to Corlys. He really isn’t present at all.

Rhaenyra introduces her and Daemon’s children, one of whom is called Viserys. The King smiles. “Now that is a name fit for a king,” he says. He then cries a little and holds his head, and asks for his tea. Daemon sniffs it – it’s milk of the poppy, a powerful anaesthetic that, in high doses, can reduce consciousness.

Another powerful tea

Alicent goes to meet Diana, a young servant girl, who is crying and shaking, presumably as a result of the “delicate situation” that was spoken of earlier. Diana says, in more words than this of course, that she was raped by Aemond. He jumped on her.

Alicent looks genuinely upset – she has created a monster. “Thank you for telling me Diana. It wasn’t your fault. I believe you,” she says and holds the girl’s head to her chest.

Ah, but then the terrifying Alicent we have come to know rears her head: “What I worry about is what others might believe.” Very much uh oh. She goes on, saying that since there were no witnesses to the event others might think that Diana in fact enticed the prince.

Diana says she won’t tell anyone. She promises. “It’s best to be certain,” says the Queen. She hands the girl a bag of gold. A medieval NDA, then. But then she hands her a tea, too. Can we repeat, uh oh? The girl drinks it...

Then it’s over to the Queen in Aemond’s bed chamber. Rather intrusive Alicent? Isn’t he married? She cares not. In fact, she pulls back his bedcover revealing his pasty white behind. When he sits up he gets a massive slap around the face.

“Think of the shame... On your wife. On me,” she says ferociously. “You are no son of mine.”

The hit has managed to stir some kind of emotion in the selfish young man. I did not ask for this, he says. I’ve done everything you asked but it will never be enough for you or father.

Later we see Helaena ask her Mum, “Have you seen Diana? She’s supposed to dress the children?” Alicent responds by hugging her daughter.

Meet brute?

“It’s been so long since had the joy of your presence,” says Alicent as she addresses Daemon and Rhaenyra in the King’s model city room, which is just off his bedroom. Despite hating the old incest thing, we’ll admit the two actually do seem to make a formidable duo, putting on a united front against Alicent.

Alicent says that she and Otto are not ruling, but are instead “mere stewards of the king’s will and wisdom”. Throughout the conversation, there are glances towards both his bed and the scar on Rhaenyra’s arm (the one that Alicent created).

Alicent reminds the Targaryens of Viserys’s illness, but they accuse her of keeping him “addled on milk of the poppy while the Hightowers warm his throne”. She replies that he is blind with pain without it. It’s difficult to know who to believe here. Of course, anyone who has watched the last seven episodes wouldn’t put anything past Alicent, but the king looks well and truly rotten, and it must hurt a lot to look that bad (poor guy).

“I have no doubt it was also an act of the purest mercy,” says Daemon rolling his eyes. It’s nice to see him come to his brother’s defence, even if power and succession are elements of his motivation. He’s so deeply unlikeable but we’re really enjoying him. He asks whether the maesters also commanded the removal of Targaryen heraldry in the palace, with various statues and stars replacing it. Well, Alicent? What say you?

In fact, the Queen looks a little flushed. She seems to know she’s in the wrong and says something about the Seven gods.

Rhaenyra then asks who will be judging her son’s claim to his own inheritance. The Queen says it will be her, and her father Otto, but that she will forget about all the accusations that have been lobbed at her during the meeting. Yeah, right.

Preparations for the petitions

Everyone is getting ready for the big showdown. Jace and Luce are in the courtyard watching Aegon fight Ser Criston Cole. He looks truly unhinged, wearing an eye patch and swinging a mace on a chain. By the looks of it, Ser Cole only just gets away with his life.

“Nephews, have you come to train?”Aegon says, turning to them. Luckily, they’re saved by the… gates, as Vaemond arrives, diverting everyone’s attention. Then it’s to the council room where the Queen is with Vaemond and Otto. She admits that she’s feeling a bit nervous now that the big dispute is at hand.

“We must, of course, act in the interest of our subjects,” she says. Ever noble, ever threatening.

Otto is, predictably, supportive. He says that the threat of war looms and that should it arrive on their shores the last thing they’ll want is to have a child commanding the greatest fleet in Westeros. He’s probably – dare we say it? – got a point.

Vaemond says that the next Lord of the Tides would “be deeply in your debt your grace” and that “so will Driftmark, in all its strength.” Is that a cloaked bribe or a cloaked threat? It’s difficult to tell, but either way, Alicent must certainly be feeling the heat.

Rhaenys and Rhaneyra meet in a garden. Rhaenyra says that she has been pondering over why Rhaenys came to the gathering at all, and was wondering who Rhaenys would be supporting. But she realised that Rhaenys has in fact come to advocate for herself.

“This is no fair proceeding, it is a trap,” says Rhaenyra, pleading with her eyes. But Rhaenys hasn’t forgiven the Princess for orchestrating Laenor’s death.

“I did not order his death, nor was I complicit in it. I swear this to you,” lies Rhaenyra.

She then makes a pretty marvellous offer in anybody’s books: in return for Rhaenys backing Luce’s claim to the Driftwood Throne, Daemon and Laena’s twin daughters Rhaena and Baela, and her children with (ahem) Laenor, Jace and Luce, can be married. That will mean that Velaryons will, in time, sit on the Iron Throne.

“A generous offer… or a desperate one…” says Rhaenys, but adds that it doesn’t matter. It really looks like she’s going to accept and Rhaenyra thinks she will, too. The women’s faces are close together now, Rhaenyra is wide-eyed while Rhaenys’ face is glassy, ice-cold. She says to the Princess, “You can bargain with me all you like… but tomorrow the Hightowers land their first blow, they force you to your knees, and I must stand alone.” Ouch.

Bad day?

Rhaenyra is sitting next to her father’s bed. It’s late and she’s weeping. Her hair is undone and it looks like she too was in bed and couldn’t sleep.

“The Song of Ice and Fire, do you believe it to be true?” she cries. Do you remember all the way back in episode one? The story about the dream that Viserys told his young daughter, all those years ago?

She talks about her inheritance. “I thought I wanted it,” she continues. “But the burden is a heavy one, it’s too heavy. If you wish me to bear it then defend me. And my children.” But her words fall on deaf ears. The poor old King is away with the fairies, muttering strangely.

The next day as Viserys is having his sores tended to, lying out on a sort of massage table, he tells Otto he wants to have supper with all of his family in the Red Keep. By all accounts, this sounds like an absolutely terrible idea, but Otto obviously agrees to the King’s request. Viserys’s body is on show now, and it’s truly ghastly. His flesh is putrid – there are gaping holes where bits of it used to be (we’re looking forward to reading the Reddit thread on what this revolting disease actually is).

Bring milk of the poppy says Otto, staring at him. But this time, the King refuses it. A small, tiny, teeny weeny bit of hope may flutter in your stomach.

It all comes to a head

Everyone is gathered in the Throne Room. Here we go, the entire episode has been building up to this moment.

Otto is sitting on the Iron Throne, while Alicent, Daemon and Rhaenyra look on.

Vaemond speaks first. He’s raging even before he begins speaking, little sweat beads rolling down his face. His argument is all based on the Valyrian bloodline.

Rhaenyra butts in and starts talking about her own sons’ Valyrian blood. It’s pretty bold given that she knows, we know, and in fact the entire kingdom knows that Laenor Velaryon is not the father to her children. Really probably not a good idea to bring up the bloodline, Rhaenyra.

Then back to Vaemond who keeps making the same claims. When he finishes, it’s Rhanerya’s turn to speak. But just as she opens her mouth the giant doors of the Throne Room swing open. It’s the King. Swaying on his weak legs, he’s almost bent double holding onto his walking stick, with a gold mask hiding half of his decaying face.

Perhaps it’s that we’ve been starved of any courage or goodness for weeks now, but his pure defiance and will to be there, against all the odds, is enough to make your heart explode. Everyone in the room gasps and Otto and Alicent couldn’t look more guilt-ridden, their facial expressions switching between shame and shock.

Viserys struggles to climb the steps to the throne, but when he stumbles and his crown falls off his head, Daemon comes to his aid and re-adjusts the crown.

“I dont understand why petitions are being heard over a settled succession?” says the King. Hoorah and hooray. Excellent question Viserys. Otto and Alicent look embarrassed. The king says that Rhaenys is the only one who can offer insight into Corlys’s wishes.

All eyes on Rhaenys. She steps forward, and confirms that Corlys wanted the succession to pass through their son Laenor to Lucerys. Rhaenys then talks about the marriage offer, and how Laena’s daughters are going to be marrying Rhaenrya’s sons. Rhaenrya looks on in amazement. All our mouths are agape.

Vaemond, who is still sweating, has had enough. He says that the king broke centuries of tradition by appointing his own daughter as heir, but that he will not allow the same thing to happen in his own family.

“Allow it. Do not forget yourself,” says Viserys, summoning strength from who-knows-where. Lucerys is my true-born grandson, he says.

“That is no true Valyrian. And no true nephew of mine,” shouts Vaemond, pointing at Lucerys. He stops himself for a moment, but cannot resist the taunt, shouting “Bastards” at Rhaenrya’s sons. “And she is a whore…” he spits towards the Princess.

The King is so angry that he pushes himself off his chair, brandishing a knife. “I will have your tongue for that,” he says. But in the same moment, Vaemond’s head comes flying off his shoulders – yes, literally. Daemon has just sliced off his head.

“He can keep his tongue,” Daemon smirks. Yay!

A Last Supper

It’s time for that supper that the King requested. The family gathering that is surely going to go well. The scene opens with Alicent and Rhaenrya sitting on two ends of a table. The King is carried into the room in a chair and is placed between them.

Viserys says that given all the marriages it’s an occasion for celebration (cough, someone just got beheaded, cough) and Alicent conducts a prayer.

It takes him a long uncomfortable moment, but Viserys stands, and truly, he looks like he’s about to die. He says that they’ve all grown so distant from each other, and as he does he takes off his mask.

Well, let’s just say there will be few people left at the table who still have an appetite. His eye is missing and you can almost smell the odour of his putrescent flesh. Poor bloke.

“My own face is no longer a handsome one, if indeed it ever was. But tonight, I wish you to see me as I am. Not just a King. But your father, your brother, your husband... Who may not walk for much longer among you.” Weep.

It’s his last effort at some sort of reconciliation, and it seems to work. “If not for the sake of the Crown then for the sake of this old man who loves you so dearly,” he says.

Rhaenyra raises her cup and apologises to Alicent, citing the Queen’s constant devotion to the King. Alicent then says she is moved by the Princess’s graciousness, shockingly adding, “You will make a fine queen.” The only adult who doesn’t look moved by the exchange is Otto.

The children, however, are not behaving. Aemond is taunting Jacaerys about whether he’ll make a good lover to his new wife, and even offers his services to the young fiancée. Music plays though, Jacaerys dances with Helaena and the people around the table are talking and laughing. It all looks, momentarily, hopeful.

But the king has exhausted himself and is taken away. When he has left, Aegon makes a toast. “To the health of my nephews,” he says. “Jace, Luce, Joffrey. Each of them handsome... wise... strong. Come let us drain our cups to these three strong boys.” Obviously a fight breaks out, and the adults in the room step between them – Jace and Luce are held by knights.

However, the bust-up doesn’t seem to have affected the new truce between Alicent and Rhaenrya. Rhaenrya says she thinks it’s best if she goes back to Dragonstone, at least to take the kids. The two hold hands, and Rhaenrya says she will return “on dragon back”. “The king and I would both like that,” replies Alicent.

Mysaria misery?

A cloaked figure is walking through the streets of what looks like King’s Landing. Mysaria, Daemon’s old girlfriend (remember her?) is standing on a balcony ready to receive the guest. You instantly assume this it must be Daemon, despite the figure looking too svelte.

But the camera turns to reveal the face of one of Alicent’s main servants. She was the one who passed the Queen Diana’s poisoned potion. What could be going on?

The King croaks?

In the final scene, the King is back in his bed. It’s dark and he is groaning in pain. Alicent tends to him, offering him another tea. Out of the blue Viserys says that “he believes it to be true” then mutters a bit about “the Song of Ice and Fire”.

Not now Viserys, wrong person! But Alicent doesn’t know that. She leans over her husband perplexed, thinking he’s going even barmier.

“It is you. You are the one. You must do this,” he whispers. “You must do this.” Alicent stares at him. Oh dear, what a terrible misunderstanding and what terrible timing (it seemed like she was just starting to soften towards Rhaenyra). “I understand, my King,” she says. She blows out his candle.

In the darkness, King cries. A tear runs down the side of his face. “No more,” he says, his breathing slowing and then he whimpers, “Oh my love.” And that very well might be the end of King Viserys. And the start of something new and dangerous in Alicent.

Verdict

Unlike the show’s past episodes – which were bloody or tense, or where people were deeply cruel or malevolent (but admittedly a little bit entertaining) – episode eight is just plain sad.

It’s sad to see the King so hopelessly ill, sad to see that the families remain so divided, sad to see that Alicent’s monstrous sons haven’t grown up (and perhaps even become worse people) and sad that despite the King’s best efforts, the future of the Iron Throne remains as opaque as ever. Here’s hoping that episode nine, is a little more fun.

House of the Dragon is streaming on NOW and Sky Atlantic